Fifth-wheel



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. S. K. PADBN.

FIFTH WHEEL.

No. 566,615. i Patented Aug. 25, 1896.

W/TNESSES: f3

UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE.

SAMUEL E'. PADEN', or PULAsKI, PENNSYLVANIA.

FIFTH-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 566,615, dated August 25, 1896. Application lecl April Z9, 1896. Serial No. 589,560. (No model.)

To all whom it man concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL K. PADEN, of Pulaski, in the county of Lawrence and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fifth Vheels, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention is an improvement upon the fifth-wheel for which Ihave received Letters Patent of the United States, No. 525,995, dated September 1l, lSSli.

The several novel and improved features embodying the invention will be hereinafter described.

In accompanying drawings, two sheets, Figure l is a central vertical section of my improved fifth-wheel, on line l l of Fig` 2. Fig. l is a detail perspective hereinafter referred to. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section taken at right angles to that shown in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the detachable clips that secure the two parts of the lifthwheel together. Fig. 4, Sheet 2, is a perspective top view of the upper part of the fifth-wheel. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the same. Fig. 6 is a perspective top view of the lower part of the fifth-wheel. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the upper part of the fifthwheel. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the lower part of the fifth-wheel.

In my former invention the upper part A and lower part B of the fifth-wheel were made entire or as solid plates, the upper one, A, having a pendent circular rim or flange that overhung the edge of the lower one, B. In the present case I make such parts A B skeleton-like, or with cut-out portions, in order to render them lighter, and I provide the upper one, A, Figs. l and 5, with two parallel circular pendent flanges of, the space between them forming an annular recess that receives the rim l) of the lower part B. This construction forms a circular bearing, from which dirt and other foreign substances are excluded. It will be noted also that the rim of the lower part B is so constructed that it has the form of an inverted L. rlhe flat horizontal portion olf the bearing-surface of said rim works in sliding contact with the bottom of the recessed rim o, of part A, while the vertical portion of rim l) raises it a due height above the axlecap (l on bolster D.

The circular portion or rim Z) of the lower part B, Fig. has a broad flat diametrical barb', from which depend two parallel flanges b2, that embrace, Fig. l, the sides of both the bolster D and axle C. At right angles to the bar b and said flanges b2, are arranged two radial webs Z13, that serve as braces for the latter and supports for the rim b.

The bar b has a circular boss or projection ZJ* at its middle, which enters a corresponding socket c", Figs. l, 2, and in the upper part A of the fifth-wheel. The bar b, Figs. 2 and G, is provided with a countersunk hole b5 at each end contiguous to the rim b for reception of screws t, Fig. 2, that secure the part B to the axle-bolster D, so that it is prevented from sliding on the same. There are other co untersunk holes D6 to receive bolts D7, Fig. 2, for securing the part B to the bolster D and axle C.

A feature of special importance in the con struction of the part B is the joined flanges b2 and braces b3 with pendent bolt-like extensions ha, which are screw-threaded, and thus adapted to receive nuts b9, Fig. l, that hold a clip-plate 1110 in place, and thus secure the part B firmly to the axle and bolster. The construction of the part B with the L-rim b, the central bar o', the pivot b4, pendent flanges b2, braces b3, and bolt extensions b8 all in one piece. The spaces between such bar b and braces b3 being left open insures the combination of maximum lightness and Strength. Y

The upper part A of the fifth-wheel (shown best in Fig. 4) has a flat diametrical bar a2, from the side edges of which rise parallel vertical fianges a3, that embrace the sides of the multi-leaf spring E, Fig. 1. A brace aL ex tends forward between the flanges a3 and the rim a, as shown, and the spaces between the brace and anges are open. It will be seen that the bar a?, the flanges ai, and brace of* of part A correspond closely .in arrangement and function with the bar, flanges, and braces of the lower part B, so that, like the latter, the part A is distinguished by lightness and strength.

In addition to the features above specified, the part A has two other parallel vertical flanges a5, Figs. l and 5, arranged at right angles to the flanges a3, and serving to embrace the forward end of the reach F, Fig. l.

The said iianges c5 are join t flat web a6, F1 s. and 7, h prqecting dowel al, Fig. 1 t rea h F, as shawn The l1` mi ed in the s) ket by me n lFig l, that p s s transvers f through it lthe upper 3 rners of tie i ges c5. A leach iron or 3l is bolt l the base by an upwardt enters the s further sef a bolt a8,

ec to the upper of the rc t F and est nds over the es d3, Fig l ortant featu re oli i cri eed.

ng E and f he most iml 1y invention iains to be les The bar or web c2 f part A is thickened at :its mi :lclle by means i portion al that projects uf ward, ywhile e circular bose o1 iianga cv,fl1at forms a eket for the pivoi b4 of part B, projects wnward from the under side. A counter- 1 single screw-bolt G, that se ic E to part A, is provided in ch projection L10, which also forms the cenil bearing or support on which the spring E sts. This construction gives g1 eat strength the center cf the part A when it is most juired. lhe means fc r detachably securing the two parts A B of the flltli-wheel together the clips II, Figs. l, 2, and 8, whose hook 'tions lie in the notches or recesses c, ned in the rim a of part A, and embrace horizontal 1 ortion of the rim b of part B. my former invention the clips were coned by a sort f double hook, which I now ense with. Each clip Il has a hole g, la and 3, near the inner end of its k, to receive a dowel al?, Fig. 2, projectrom the bar c2 of part A. The Shanks f the clips H are tapered to adapt them to onform to the curve of the spring E, Fig. 2, nd their inner ends abut the central perforated projection am of said bar c2, as shown in Fig. 2. The clips H may be inserted or removed when the spring E is detached, as illustrated in Fig. l.

The two parts A B of the coupling or fifth-wheel turn freely on each other, and may describe a complete circle, yet are held firmly together by the clips Il, as shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letter Patent, is-

l. The skeleton upper part of a fifth-wheel, composed of a recessed circular rim, a iiat diametrical bar having an annular boss projecting downward from its center, parallel flanges projecting upward from the sides of said bar, a radial brace arranged at right angles to said flanges and joining one of the latter with the rim, and parallel vertical reachflanges, having a web or bottom bar all constructed integrally as shown and described.

2. The skeleton upper part of the iifthwheel composed of a recessed circular rim,

k hole for the s the spring the parallel vertical iianges, the dien bar or web having a raised and central portion on its upper side, v provided with a countersunk perfo and vith an annular boss )n the und to receive the pivot of the rotatall part oi the fifthewheel, and prevent e i of cliii or dust, said parts being com integi ally, as sli wn and described The upf er part of the fifth-whe posed of a recessed circular rim, tl e -metri al bar c 2, which is perforated a vided with d wels, and parallel il i arranged at the sides of `said bar, foi

l the s1 ring and lips in place, and tl base o1 web ci, having a dc wel and 1l allel ilanges o5, arranged at r ght an the oil rs anc forming a 1each-socke stautfllly as sl own and desciil ed.

il. lhe corr b nation wi th the skeleton lc v part of the fift -wheel, having ft circular and a entrai pivot, of the skeletnr Fermi-#FFO part having essed run tc re eive ical fi ,i 0e a di unctrlc 1 a entral perf l dowels arranged ritter, and the d Xtacha le ving perforated Shanks as other, paralle bar provide l w11 raised Iorti i au posite sides ci the hook-like clips l1 t shown and cleseril 5. r[he skeleton wheel, rim, tli

lower part cm1 osed cf a ciiculn 1 di ceti] tl web or l central pivot and thc partllel pendant iianges, and the braces (rranged at riD angles to said iaiges, all constructed i tegrally as shown an l ildescribed. l l 6. The skeleton under part f the fthwheel,

inverted i the fifthtr r `iavin omp )sed if the circular rim, the diametri cal n eb, or bar, the pendent parallel flanges, the pendent braces, arranged at right angles to the latter, and the bolt extensions constructed integrally with said iianges and braces and extending downward, parallel to adapt them to pass on opposite sides of a bolster and axle, as shown and described.

7. The improved under part of a fifthwheel, composed of the circular inverted-L rim, the diametrical bar having a central pivot, the parallel, vertical ilanges, pendent from said bar, the vertical pendent braces joining the rim and flanges and the parallel cylindrical threaded portions or bolt eXtensions, projecting downward from the junction of the flanges and braces, and the clip plate and nuts applied to said bolt extension as shown and described, thereby securing said part to the axle as specified.

S. K. PADEN.

Witnesses:

AMos W. HART, M. D. BLONDEL.

IIO 

